Can opener and sealer



Jan. 1, 1963 R. A. VALVANO 3,071,286

CAN OPENER AND SEALER Filed July 13. 1960 I l l FIG.I

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RALPH A. VA/LVANO Lg/MW ATTORNEY United States Patent 01 3,071,286Patented Jan. 1, 1963 :ice

3,071,286 CAN OPENER AND SEALER Ralph A. Valvano, 602 S.'Quaker, Tulsa,Okla. Filed July 13, 1960, Ser. No. 42,721 3 Claims. (Cl. 220-51) Thisinvention relates to improvements in can opener and sealer devices; moreparticularly, the invention relates to improvements in the punch meansof a can opener and sealer wherein the device is more easily removedfrom the can to which it is attached.

This application is a continuation-in-part of an application entitledCan Opener and Sealer filed October 20, 195 8, having Serial Number768,489.

An object of this invention is to provide improvements in means forpuncturing and sealing metal containers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for puncturing afluid outlet and vent opening in a can and having means for sealing thecan after the openings are punched.

Another object of this invention is to provide a punch blade having atapered shoulder portion whereby said blade is easily aligned with theelongated hole punched by the blade in the can facilitating removal ofthe can opener and sealer.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved gasket meanswhereby the possibility ofleakage of fluid past the punching mechanismof the can opener and sealer is lessened.

Another object of this invention is to provide a can opener and sealerwhich is of more simple construction, more dependable in its function,and more inexpensively manufactured than other can opener and sealermeans presently available.

These and other objects and a better understanding of the invention maybe had by referring to the following description and claims taken inconjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a typical metal container or can with theapparatus of this invention affixed thereto as it would be situatedafter the can has been punched and while it is being sealed by themechanism of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of a metal can having the mechanism of thisinvention positioned thereon.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2showing in greater detail the components constituting the assembledmechanism.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side view showing the top portion of a metalcan with the mechanism of this invention attached but with the punchremoved from the pouring hole and the opener tilted by hand pressure inan attitude wherein fluid contained within the can may be emptied.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the wedge shaped punch element of theinvention.

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the wedge shaped punch element of theinvention.

FIGURE 7 is a top view of the aligning washer of this invention.

FIGURE 8 is a side view of the aligning washer of this invention.

FIGURE 9 is a top view of a sealing gasket used to seal the wedge shapedpunch to prevent leakage.

FIGURE 10 is a cross sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIGURE 9showing the configuration of the sealing gasket.

Referring now to the drawings, first to FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2, a typicalmetal container or can is indicated by the numeral 12. This is a can ofthe nature in which condensed milk, fruit juices, and other products arecustomarilypackaged for marketing to the general public. Positioned ontop of can 12 is the can puncher and sealer mechanism of the inventionindicated generally by the numeral 14 having an elongated, rather thinmetallic main body portion 16 supporting a fixed punch element indicatedgenerally by numeral 18 at one end and a movable punch element indicatedgenerally by the numeral 20 at the opposite end. The punch elements 18and 20 are arranged so that fixed punch 18 and movable punch 20 will bepositioned near the periphery of the top of can 12 and substantially ona diameter of the top of can 12.

The can opener and sealer 14 is used to provide appropriate openings incan 12 by placing it first across the top of can 12. A sharp blow, aswith the heel of the hand, is then struck on movable punch knob 22driving movable punch element 20 into the top of the can 12. Next a blowis struck, again as by the heel of the hand, on the fixed punch portion18. This forms two holes in can 12. The hole formed by the movable punchelement 20 serves two purposes. First, it provides means whereby air mayenter can 12 as the liquid contents are emptied. Second, it provides ameans whereby the can opener and sealer 14 is retained in position ontop of the can 12. The hole formed by fixed punch portion 18 is utilizedfor discharging the contents of the can 12.

Referring to FIGURE 3 the details of construction and assembly of theelements of the invention are more clearly disclosed. An inwardly formedangular lip portion 24 extends substantially perpendicularly to bodyportion 16, and is disposed to engage the upper vertical edge 26 of can12. A fixed punch 28 is permanently secured to body portion 16, as bywelding, brazing or bradding. Fixed punch 28 has a slanting cuttingsurface 30 adaptable for piercing can 12 when pressure or a blow isapplied to the upper surface of body portion 16 in the vicinity of fixedpunch portion 18. Surrounding fixed punch portion 18 is a gasket element32 composed of sponge rubber or some similar resilient matter which,when compressed around fixed punch element 28, serves to seal can 12,preventing the escape of any liquid contained therein in the event thecan is inadvertently overturned. After fixed punch 28 has been forcedthrough the top of can 12, forming a hole therein, it can besubsequently removed by applying manual pressure to lip portion 24 in anupward direction, raising fixed punch 28 from engagement with the holein the can 12 and permitting liquid to be discharged through the hole.

Movable punch assembly 20 is composed of a wedge shaped punch 34integrally aifixed to a stem 36, a knob 22 secured to stem 36, acompression coiled spring 40 fitted in compression between knob 38 andbody portion 16, a washer member 42 which serves to align and slideablysupport stem 36 and a gasket element 44 supported by washer member 42.

Stem 26 extends through an elongated slot 46 (best shown in FIGURE 2) inbody member 36 in a manner such that the movablepunch element 28 may beslid back and forth along the length of body element 16 to adjust forvarious sizes of can 12 to which the can opener and sealer 14 is to beapplied. The compressive tension of spring 48 will serve to maintainmovable punch 20 in the position desired while it is being used untilits position relative to body portion 16 has been manually altered.

Wedge shaped punch 34 is shown in greater detail in FIGURE 5 and FIGURE6. The wedge shaped punch 34 is formed with a pointed end 48 to adapt itfor extending through the upper surface of can 12. Shoulder surfaces 59,extending substantially vertically to the axis of stem 36, serve tomaintain the Wedge shaped punch 34 within can 12 by bearing against theinside surfaces of can 12 after the wedge shaped punch 34 enters the canand is rotated approximately by manually turning knob 38.

(a FIGURE 8 is composed of a relatively thin flat upper portion 52, arelatively thin flat and smaller diameter portion 54 supportedsubstantially parallel to the upper portion 52 and a tubular connectingportion 56. The upper portion 52, lower portion 54 and tubularconnecting portion 56 are integrally formed into a single element.Tubular opening 58 has an internal diameter of a size to snugly butslideably receive stem 36 of wedge shaped punch 34.

Washer member 42 is of configuration to receive gasket element 44.Gasket element 44 has a cylindrical recessed area 60 adaptable forreceiving lower portion 54 of washer member 42. A portion of washermember 44 extends beyond lower portion 54 of washer element 42 to engagethe upper surface of can 12.

The method of using the can opener and sealer 14, and the function ofthe various elements is best disclosed in FIGURE 4. The can opener andsealer 14 is first positioned on top of can 12. A blow is struck withthe heel of the hand on top of knob 22 driving wedge shaped punch 34into the top of the can. After entering the top of can 12, knob 22 ismanually forced downward, compressing spring 40. Knob 33 is then rotatedapproximately 90 from wedge shaped punch 34 to be rotated in eitherdirection from the position in which it entered the top of can 12. Withthe wedge shaped punch 34 thus rotated and knob 22 released uppershoulder surfaces 50 encounter the top of the can, retaining wedgeshaped punch 34 within the can. This exerts a downward pressure, by thecompression of spring 40, onto body portion 16 and thereby to the upperportion 52 of washer member 42, compressing gasket member 44 against thetop of can 12. This prevents liquid from leaking around wedge shapedpunch 34. The close fit between the stem portion 36 of wedge shapedmember 34 and hole 58 in washer member 42 prevents any liquid leakage atthis point.

Lip portion 24 is aligned with edge 26 of can 12 diametrically oppositethe point where wedge shaped punch 34 is driven into the can. A blow isthen struck on fixed punch portion 18 driving fixed punch 28 into thetop of can 12. When it is desired to remove liquid from the interior ofcan 12 punch 28 is removed from the engagement with the hole it hasformed in the upper surface of can 12 by manually exerting pressure, aswith the thumb, on lip portion 24, lifting punch 28 out of the hole andthen sliding body portion 16 back toward movable punch Air can beadmitted into the hole punched by wedge shaped punch 34 by pressing onthe rearward portion of body member 16, as with the thumb 62,compressing one side of gasket element 44, and permitting air to flowunder the elevated opposite side into can 12.

After sufficient liquid has been removed from can 12 punch 28 can bereinserted into the hole previously formed, so that gasket member 32seals the hole. In this manner can 12 can be opened and resealed as manytimes as is required.

When the can 12 has been emptied of its contents the can opener andsealer 14 may be removed from the can as follows: First, punch 28 isremoved from the hole formed by it by exerting upward pressure on lipportion 24. Next, knob 38 is turned, rotating wedge shaped punch 34,until a click is heard. This click sound indi- 'cates that wedge shapedpunch 34 has aligned with the rectangular hole it has formed in the topof can 12 and 1's in a position to be removed. Upward pull on knob 38removes wedge shaped punch 34 from Within the can 12. 'The can openerand sealer 14 is then ready for reuse on :another can.

The advantages and improvements of the wedge shaped punch 34, as used inconjunction with washer member 42 and gasket element 44, are numerousand may not be readily apparent from a casual observation of the construction of these elements. One disadvantage which exists in previouslyknown can punchers and sealers is that the wedge shaped punch 34, afterentering the top of the can 12, is difiicult to remove because theoperator is never aware of when it is accurately aligned with therectangular shaped opening for removal. By providing the taperedsshoulder surfaces 50 on wedge shaped member 34, the wedge shaped punch34 is guided into the rectangular shaped slot it has formed in the topof can 12 when it is properly aligned. As knob 38 is turned a decidedclick will be heard and felt by the operator when alignment of punch 34is achieved with the opening it has formed. This eliminates theexasperating diificulties encountered in other mechanisms of this typewherein removing the wedge shaped punch is ditficult.

Another advantage of the present embodiment of the invention is theprovision against leakage around the wedge shaped punch 34. Theprovision of circular stem 36 snugly but slidably engaging hole 58 inwasher member 42 prevents any fluid leakage. The tubular opening 58 alsoprovides an aligning means whereby stem 38 is accurately supported inrelation to the body member 16. The configuration of gasket element 44,supported in washer member 42, provides improved sealing againstpossible leakage of the liquid contained in can 12 and also permitsgreater air flow into the can when it is being emptied of its contents.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity it manifests that many changes may be made to details ofconstruction and the arrangement of components without departing fromthe spirit and scope of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. A device adaptable for opening and sealing a can comprising; anelongated longitudinally slotted substantially inflexible body adaptedto be placed diametrically across one end of said can; a first punchmember affixed to said body adjacent one end of said body adaptable forpunching a first hole in said can whereby contents of said can may bedischarged; a wedge shaped second punch member adaptable for punching arectangular shaped second hole in said can, said second punch memberhaving an integrally formed cylindrical shank extending therefrom, theupper surfaces of said wedge shaped second punch member being of atapered configuration; means of slideably and resiliently supportingsaid second punch member to said body wherein said shank extends throughsaid longitudinal slot in said body; a knob afiixed to said shankadaptable for driving said second punch member through said can and forrotatably positioning said second punch member whereby the uppersurfaces of said wedge shaped punch member are disposed to engage theinner surface of said can after said second punch has entered said canto support said device to said can and whereby said second punch membermay be rotated to align said tapered upper surfaces with the said secondhole formed by said second punch member for releasing said device fromsaid can; a spring disposed around said shank and compressed betweensaid body and said knob resiliently biasing said second punch towardssaid body; and flexible sealing pad means carried by said body adaptableto cover said first and second holes formed by said first and secondpunch members whereby said first punch member may be disengaged fromcontact with said can for the discharge of liquid from said can andwhereby said body may be manually tilted with reference to said secondpunch member to partially uncover said second hole formed in said can bysaid second punch member to permit said can to receive air while liquidis being discharged falls into said rectangular second hole as saidsecond punch member is rotated by said knob for releasing said devicefrom said can.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said means of slideably andresiliently supporting said second punch member to said body includes awasher member, said washer member having a larger and a smaller circularflange portion positioned with respect to each other in parallel planesand supported to each other by an integrally formed tubular portionsnugly but slideably receiving said shank of said second punch member,one portion of said larger flange member engaging said body whereby saidshank of said second punch member is supported substantiallyperpendicularly to said body, and whereby said contents of said can isprevented from leaking at said second punch member by said snug fit ofsaid shank with said opening of said'tubular portion, and wherein saidsealing pad means carried by said body adaptable to cover said secondhole formed by said second punch member includes a resilient gasketpositioned around said tubular portion and between said larger andsmaller flange portions, said gasket having a recessed portion receivingsaid smaller flange whereby said gasket extends beyond said smallerflange to resiliently engage the outer surface of said can around saidrectangular second hole formed in said can by said second punch member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,082,850 Laney et a1. Dec. 30, 19 3 ,145,778 McCrystle July 6, 19151,230,344 Tweeddale June 19, 1917 1,773,019 Wickers Aug. 12, 19302,024,913 Dilley Dec. 17, 1935

1. A DEVICE ADAPTABLE FOR OPENING AND SEALING A CAN COMPRISING; ANELONGATED LONGITUDIANALLY SLOTTED SUBSTANTIALLY INFLEXIBLE BODY ADAPTEDTO BE PLACED DIAMETRICALLY ACROSS ONE END OF SAID CAN; A FIRST PUNCHMEMBER AFFIXED TO SAID BODY ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID BODY ADAPTABLE FORPUNCHING A FIRST HOLE IN SAID CAN WHEREBY CONTENTS OF SAID CAN MAY BEDISCHARGED; A WEDGE SHAPED SECOND PUNCH MEMBER ADAPTABLE FOR PUNCHING ARECTANGULAR SHAPED SECOND HOLE IN SAID CAN, SAID SECOND PUNCH MEMBERHAVING AN INTEGRALLY FORMED CYLINDRICAL SHANK EXTENDING THEREFROM, THEUPPER SURFACES OF SAID WEDGE SHAPED SECOND PUNCH MEMBER BEING OF ATAPERED CONFIGURATION; MEANS OF SLIDEABLY AND RESILIENTLY SUPPORTINGSAID SECOND PUNCH MEMBER TO SAID BODY WHEREIN SAID SHANK EXTENDS THROUGHSAID LONGITUDINAL SLOT IN SAID BODY; A KNOB AFFIXED TO SAID SHANKADAPTABLE FOR DRIVING SAID SECOND PUNCH MEMBER THROUGH SAID CAN AND FORROTATABLY POSITIONING SAID SECOND PUNCH MEMBER WHEREBY THE UPPERSURFACES OF SAID WEDGE SHAPED PUNCH MEMBER ARE DISPOSED TO ENGAGE THEINNER SURFACE OF SAID CAN AFTER SECOND PUNCH HAS ENTERED SAID CAN TOSUPPORT SAID DEVICE TO SAID CAN AND WHEREBY SAID SECOND PUNCH MEMBER MAYBE ROTATED TO ALIGN SAID TAPERED UPPER SURFACES WITH THE SAID SECONDSHOLE FORMED